Lampard must unleash "confident" £7.2m-rated Everton star, he could be the difference - opinion

Everton manager Frank Lampard must unleash defender Jarrad Branthwaite against Leicester City tomorrow to help solve their issues at the back.

The Toffees have been woeful defensively throughout the season and it has resulted in a battle for survival. Whilst they can’t improve their back-four through signing anyone until the summer, they can make better use of what they already have.

Branthwaite moved to Goodison Park in 2020 from Carlisle United for £990k and has since been tipped as another bargain young signing for Everton.

He is only 19-years old so has many years ahead of him, but he should be used by Lampard now and could be the answer to their problems.

Former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti described him as “confident” and said that “he never loses control”. Praise like that from one of the world’s elite manager has surely got to mean something.

If it doesn’t to the Toffees then it will to other clubs with a recent report in the Daily Mirror linking the £7.2m rated man to Manchester United.

The Toffees are 5th when it comes to goals conceded this season and it has been the main problem as to why they could be relegated. Branthwaite is better than Everton’s current partnership of Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane in many defensive areas.

He has the second highest successful press percentage amongst the squad this season and the highest of any defender at 48.1%. Winning possession of the ball back can be key to ensuring Everton concede less.

The Englishman has also won far more of his aerial duals than his fellow defenders at 71.4% which again ranks the highest amongst those in his position.

We have only seen glimpses of Branthwaite this season as he has suffered from injuries, but it may also be down to the fact that